THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) spent P2.15 billion in 2009 to construct and upgrade 16 ports nationwide.
As of end-2009, 16 projects were fully implemented by the PPA head office while seven were under the procurement stage.
Two projects were suspended — the Davao port’s construction of a transit shed; and San Andres port’s improvement of a reinforced concrete pier, roll on-roll off (ro-ro) ramp and breasting dolphin, rock causeway and back-up area and port lighting system.
PPA allocated P624.78 million for six projects under the Port District Office (PDO) of Southern Luzon, representing the bulk or 29.01% of the total 2009 investment.
About P549.43 million or 25.51% went to the PDO of Northern Mindanao’s engineering projects.
The rest of the investments were allocated to PDOs Northern Luzon, Visayas and Southern Mindanao with a share of 9.59%, 16.62% and 19.27%, respectively.
PPA said four super regions’ infrastructure projects also called the SONA (State of the Nation) ports (or ports identified by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a SONA address) were completed at a total cost of P662.74 million. These were the San Pascual port expansion project, Cawayan Port improvement, Claveria port improvement project, and Cagayan de Oro’s back-up area for the new constructed wharf.
Meanwhile, the Port Management Office of Batangas is currently concentrating on the development of such ports as Calatagan and San Juan.
The SONA ports are being developed in fulfillment of President Aroyo’s 10-point legacy agenda of establishing a nationwide system of ports/ro-ro links for a more effective national transportation network.
